Back rest or support of chairs, seats, and the like



April 19, 1938. 'A. H. QABB BACK REST OR SUPPORT OF CHAIRS, SEATS, AND THE LIKE Filed June 29. 1937 lll glffffnr ATTCRNEYS Patented pr. 19,1938- srarss PATENT FFIC ECK REST OR SUPPORT OF CHAIRS, SEATS, AND THE LIKE pany Application June 29, 1937, Serial No. 151,013 In Great Britain June 18, 1936 3 Claims.

The present invention has relation to the back rests or supports of chairs, seats, and the like, more particularly the type oi back rest or support usually found upon oice chairs and like furniture, and of a pivotal character capable of adapting itself to the user for the comfortable support of his or her back. Previously proposed constructions have however been unsightly, and the present invention has for its object primarily to render the pivotal back of a more pleasing appearance, avoiding protuberances liable to harbor dust and the like, the invention further providing for the generally increased utility and better manipulation of the back rest.

According to the present invention there is provided a pivotal back rest for a chair incorporating an apertured cover plate secured to the rear of said back rest for enclosing the pivot thereof, and supporting means for said back rest the upper end whereof passes through the aperture and is enclosed by the cover plate.`

In order that this invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practice, reerence may be had to the appended explanatory sheet of drawings upon which:-

Figure l illustrates the present back rest or support from a rear elevational aspect.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional elevation taken on line 3--3 of Figure l.

In a convenient embodiment of the present invention the back rest a is of substantially oblong formation and is supported upon a horizontal pivot c1 provided at the upper extremity of a central supporting arm b in such a manner as to conform to the small of the users back. TheV back rest may be constructed of plywood a2 bent to an arcuate formation, against the fore part of which a rubber compound a3 or like iiexible element is placed and maintained in position by a covering of felt a and leather abric a4 and the like which may be extended around the compound and back rest and secured by stitching or other suitable means. This invention is however particularly concerned with the concealment oi the pivot c1 at'the rear of the back rest, and accordingly there is attached to the inner face of the cover plate c hereinafter referred to substantially centrally thereof a U or channel shaped bracket c2 the limbs of which are bent outwardly and bolted or otherwise secured to the said cover plate. Across the limbs of this U or channelshaped bracket the spindle c1 is provided in parallelism with the yoke or base of the channel member, with which spindle the upper extremity of the supporting arm b is pivotally engaged. Il. the supporting arm b is of a tubular character it may be attened at its extremity and the flattened part curved around the spindle to constitute a bearing b1 so that the back rest capable of pivoting on a horizontal axis. For the concealment of this pivot or hinge mechanism the sheet metal cover plate c is provided at the rear of the back rest, and this cover plate is of a domed, bulbous or equivalent formation, or of arcuate transverse section, being slotted at its lower centre part c3 for the passage of the supporting arm b and attached as for instance at or about its extremities to the back rest a2 by means of bolts c4, screws or the like. By this construction it will be appreciated that the pivot mechanism of the back rest or support is not only carried by the cover plate c but is concealed thereby lying between that member and the back board of the back rest, and whilst the said back rest with its cover plate is capable of a normal pivotal movement Vit will be appreciated that its appearance is considerably enhanced and that facilities are provided for the manipulation, inasmuch as the fingers of the user are not liable to come into contact with any pivot mechanism, and further on account of the enclosed nature of the latter, dust or the like is precluded so that the eiiiciency is generally enhanced and the life of the back rest increased.

In a modification of the present invention instead of the U or channel shaped bracket c2 being attached to cover plate c it may be attached directly to the plywood a? of the back rest o.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. The combination with a supporting arm adapted for attachment to a chair, of a back rest, a cover plate secured to the rear side of the back rest, said cover plate being closed at the top and sides and having an aperture in its underside through which said supporting arm extends loosely, a pivot pin engaging the upper end of the supporting arm and enclosed between the back rest and said cover plate and bearing means secured to one of said parts and supporting said pivot pin.

2. The combination with an upright supporting arm adapted-for attachment to a chair, of a back rest, a cover plate secured to the rear side of the back rest and having an intermediate portion spaced therefrom, the intermediate portion of the cover plate having an aperture in its underside to receive the upper end of the supporting arm and permit pivotal movement of the latter therein, a bearing bracket located between the back rest and cover plate and secured to the latter in substantial alignment with the aperture tnerein, and a pivot connecting said bracket and tno upper end of the supporting arm and enclosed and concealed by the cover plate.

3. The combination with an upright supporting arm adapted for attachment to a chair, o a back rest, a cover plate secured at its ends to the rear side of 'the back rest and having its intermediate portion bulged to space it from the rear side of the back rest and provided with an aperture in its underside to receive loosely the upper end of the supporting arm, a bearing brackct interposed between the back rest and said plate and secured to one of said parts substantially in alignment with said aperture, and a pivot connecting said bearing bracket and the upper end of the supporting arm and enclosed and consealed by said plate.

ARCHIBALD HORSFIELD GABB. 

